{"id":"CVE-2026-6064","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"Norton, Avast, and AVG local privilege escalation via link following in Data Shredder","description":"Link following vulnerability in Data Shredder components in Norton Antivirus, Avast Antivirus, and AVG Internet Security prior to 26.5.10933 on Windows allows a local, low-privileged attacker to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. During a privileged shred operation, enabling arbitrary file/folder deletion that is leveraged to gain NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM privelages.","publishedAt":"2026-10-28T10:47:51.974Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-28T10:47:51.974Z","severity":{"score":7.3,"label":"High","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","source":"GEN"},"assigner":"GEN","products":["Gen Digital Norton Antivirus","Gen Digital Avast Antivirus","Gen Digital AVG Internet Security"],"affected":[{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"Norton Antivirus","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]},{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"Avast Antivirus","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]},{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"AVG Internet Security","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]}],"references":["https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/contact-us/security-advisories/"],"weaknesses":["CWE-59"],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:12:49.727Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2026/6xxx/CVE-2026-6064.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2026-6064","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2026-10-28T10:47:51.974Z","dateUpdated":"2026-10-28T10:47:51.974Z","assignerShortName":"GEN","assignerOrgId":"dbd8429d-f261-4b1e-94cc-ae3132817e2e","dateReserved":"2026-04-10T12:41:15.434Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"Norton, Avast, and AVG local privilege escalation via link following in Data Shredder","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"Link following vulnerability in Data Shredder components in Norton Antivirus, Avast Antivirus, and AVG Internet Security prior to 26.5.10933 on Windows allows a local, low-privileged attacker to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. During a privileged shred operation, enabling arbitrary file/folder deletion that is leveraged to gain NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM privelages."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"Norton Antivirus","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]},{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"Avast Antivirus","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]},{"vendor":"Gen Digital","product":"AVG Internet Security","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"26.5","versionType":"custom"}],"platforms":["Windows"]}],"references":[{"url":"https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/contact-us/security-advisories/"}],"metrics":[{"format":"CVSS","scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"GENERAL"}],"cvssV3_1":{"version":"3.1","attackVector":"LOCAL","attackComplexity":"LOW","privilegesRequired":"LOW","userInteraction":"REQUIRED","scope":"UNCHANGED","confidentialityImpact":"HIGH","integrityImpact":"HIGH","availabilityImpact":"HIGH","baseSeverity":"HIGH","baseScore":7.3,"vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"}}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-59","lang":"en","description":"CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')","type":"CWE"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"GEN","orgId":"dbd8429d-f261-4b1e-94cc-ae3132817e2e","dateUpdated":"2026-10-28T10:47:51.974Z"},"impacts":[{"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"Successful exploitation allows a local, low-privileged attacker to delete arbitrary files/folders with SYSTEM integrity by substituting a reparse point (symlink/junction) for a shred target during a privileged Data Shredder operation, ultimately achieving local privilege escalation to NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM."}]}],"credits":[{"lang":"en","value":"Anonymous working with TrendAI Zero Day Initiative","type":"reporter"}],"source":{"discovery":"EXTERNAL"},"x_generator":{"engine":"Vulnogram 1.0.4"},"solutions":[{"lang":"en","value":"Customers are advised to upgrade to version >26.5 released on or after May 2026","supportingMedia":[{"type":"text/html","base64":false,"value":"Customers are advised to upgrade to version >26.5 released on or after May 2026"}]}]}}}}